Collapsible baby walker



Aug. 9, 1949. c. D. wlLcox COLLAPSIBLE BABY WALKER Filed Deo. 28, 1945 2 vSheets-Sheet l mllmlll -wuunm n INVENTOR. CHA/nfs D. VV/Lcox.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNEITED STATES *QFEFICE 2,478,51c6 'fcoLLAPsmLE naarWALKERl f'Cha'rles D. VWilcox, fHemet, Ilalif." AApplciattion)December ,'28, 1945, SealNo. ,643

The invention relates itc collapsible `wheeled vehicles and has :particular `-reference to a conveyance commonly known Aas a baby Walker iin which small y'children are pushed about vor `in which small Achildren 4rnay'push themselves about.

Although collapsible v`features have long been used on baby carriagesan'd althoug'h baby Walkers o'f a vvariety of'types havebeen in vogue .for a r'considerable time,`-baby-Walkers orbaby cartsin which collapsible -featureshave "been attempted have failed to produce a safe, ysimple and at the same time rugged lvehicle vWhich is satisfactory for all purposes 'and which ,maybe vused VWithout fear of vinjuring the child due toaccidental c ollapse.

Among the objects of the'inventi'onis to provide a new and improvedcollapsible baby walker ,or baby cart which -is so 'constructed that the 'child rides at a As uiiicient height above .the grounc'l to afford ample `leg room and which is Ssuiiiciently cominodious to `permit the child .freedom 'to move about and without 'the danger of falling out of the vehicle. Y

,Another 'object of 'Lthe invention Vis to provide a Vcollapsible baby Walker which is .rigid and .safe in extended position ,and whlchcan 'be `collapsed coinpactly with the several parts 'lying Yoneagainst the other to make 'apackage Whichcan'bereadily stowed away vin Aa small .space lor suitable bag ior convenient transportation.

Still another object is Lto prox/lidera baby walker in whichboth a body supportinglrameworkabove a chassis and a viheelsupportng rameworkbelow 'the chassis maybe folded '.into .a .collapsed position against .chassis Lforstorage vor transportaton.

It is also an ,object to Aprovide novel ,spring mountings for the wheels which wlllirnprove thethe ycollapsing 'parts areso constructed thatthey cannot "pinch 'orilllllre the :occupant fand Which is further iprovided with simple accessories such as Vhandle bars, a tremovable 'handle .and a `Itemovable 'ootresu all of which can be *folded into a compact package whenever the vehicle is 'co1- lapse-:1.Y 'Safety -featuresiincorporated in the ivehicle include temporary :locking `devices which cannot "be accidentally 'unlocked 'With these and other dobjects in vieW, the invennen-consists inthe-construction, arrangement and combination of theivaricus parts '0i the device whereby the objects dcontemp'lated 'are attained, as hereinarter more 'Tully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated inthe accompanying draw-ings, in which:

Figure l isa topviewothevhicle lnfeirtended K position.

Figure? "isfa :side elevational View of fthe vehicl in extendedposition;

`Figureis 'a fragmentary, .sectional vfiew taken on the 2line 3-53 of. Figure? :showing the Lfront wheel support. A

Figure 4 is .a `fragmen'tary, "sectional View taken on the line All--4 of Figure 'showing one of the locking devices.

Figure '5 isla bottom view tended position. Y

Figures 6 and 7 are 'front 'end y,and 'rear end views respectively. Y

'Figure B is yaside 'elevational view 'of .the devi'c in 'collapsed position.

Y.Ei'gure!) is a'view Lof-a canvas bag adapted to hold the .collapsed vehicle.

In the design and-construction of'ivehicles A in the nature 'oibahy Walkers and baby carts several factors must ,begiven .prominence if ,the vehicles are .to be oomple'telysuccessful. In thefirstplace, saiety .features are o primary importance. The vehicles must .beso .constructed that 'they will not tip over and so that `even .though failing to tip over children cannt easily `fall .out rof them. When they zare `to lbe oi'collapsible construction, the moving parts must .beso arranged ,that there will be no likelihood of the device v.pinching and injuring `the child should ,it .collapse While the child is lit.

Another essential/is to provide a devcefof such design that .it .can Joe collapsed vinto a compact arrangement Which-.c an .be conveniently stored away linrasmall space such, l.for example, as the trunk .compartment .of anautornobile, ,or arranged to Yhe .carried by Vhand .should .the `need arise.

.It is cmmrnohlgyLlmown; also, ,that vehicles of this .kind .are .used .ior'rch'ildren .dur-ing va fast growing .stage of ,theirdevelopmena and `.to :make it possible ito use the 1device for a child .of walking age as wel-l `as forfafsmall-Achildlor .baby some .parts of the device -mustbefeither .removable or 'be capable of being changed about to provide more room. The V.vehicle should Lbefnotonly-one which canbe Naltered conveniently so :as tot the `childs requirements cas it grows but :also one capable of being .changed .at any time should .a vchildmf dierent size 'haveloccasion Lto use it.

r1Tn an .embodiment chosen rto 4illustrate the invention there v.is shownsanelongated .chassis .or body vIl) comprising .a .frame having =a central element or -`beam Il which extends from vthefront to the rear .ofthe vehicle. .At ,the rearlofthe centrai element isa transverse fram-e Aelement l2 located beneath and supporting :aseat .I 3. It will be noted that .thleeiat 'eXtenclsonly Epart Way forwardirom the rear or the vehicle and .is provided with Curved portions [4 "to afford comfortableleg space lfor the occupant. l v

Above the .chassis provided .a collapsible 'body supporting structure which includes av substanof the 'device in cx-V tially horizontal encircling frame having side elements I5 and I6 joined at the rear by an element I1 and attached at the front to a tray I8. The tray is of special design and provides a hand rail i9 at the rear extending from side to side, a dished portion in front of the hand rail and a deep recess 2l at the front of the dished portion.

For collapsibly mounting the body supporting structure there is provided a handle bar member which has a pivot support 26 at the bottom adjacent the forward end of the central frame element II and a correspondingpivot. support 21 at the bottom of the tray. The handle bar member extends upwardly through the recess 2i in the tray and has a cross-piece 28 at the top providing ahand hold. As indicated, the handle bar member actually consists of parallel side elements, one located on each side of the central frame element, the handle bar member serving as a forward stiffening element.

At the rear of the body supporting member is a somewhat U-shaped bracket 29. The bracket provides a support for the bottom edge of a sheet 39 of canvas or similar material which at its upper edge is secured to the encircling frame. Stiifeners SI and 34 hold the encircling frame in erect position as shown in Figure 2. The rear vertical stiffeners 3l are pivotally supported at the points 32 to the seat I3 and at the upper ends at the points 33 to the encircling frame. Intermediate stiifeners 34, provided with angular extensions 35 at the bottom, are supported at the points 35 upon the seat and at the points 31 upon the encircling frame. Diagonal stiiTeners 38 are pivotally attached at their bottom ends by pins 39 to the U-shaped bracket 29 and at their top ends are pivotally secured at the points 31 which likewise support the intermediate stiffeners. Padded arm rests 40 may be lprovided on the encircling frame rearwardly of the tray.

A collapsible support for four wheels upon which the vehicle rides is provided on the underside of the chassis. The collapsible support consists of parallel side rails 4I and 42 which have pivotal attachments 43 at the ends of the rear frame element I2 and extend diagonally downwardly beneath and toward the front of the vehicle. AtY the front ends of the side rails are bumpers 44, the side rails being joined at their front ends by a cross-piece 45 to which bumpers are likewise attached.A At each front corner where the cross-piece joins the side rail is a wheel support comprising a bushing 46 fixed to the side rail and cross-piece within which a vertical shaft 41 is adapted to be reciprocably mounted. The bottom end of the shaft is attached to a fork 48 which extends downwardly to support a wheel 49.

To provide a spring cushion between the front wheels and the vehicle each wheel mounting includes a coiled spring 50 which acts between spring keepers 5I and 52 respectively adjacent the fork and the bushing. A cott'er pin 53 prevents the shaft from sliding out of the bushing.V

The fork and shaft of the front wheels permit them to pivot so that the vehicle may be more easily steered.

For mounting the rear wheels 54 there are provided rearwardly extending links 55 and 56 having pivot connections 51 respectively at their for- Ward ends to the side rails. It will be noted that the pivot connectionsv are located intermediate the ends of the side rails at approximately the mid-point. At the lower end of each rearwardly extending link is a spring link v58 which is piv- '4 otally supported at the point 59 upon the lowermost end of the link 55. Rigidity is improved by joining the outer ends of the spring link by a cross brace 58. The wheel 54 in each case is mounted individually upon an end of the spring link at-one side of the pivot point and a spring 60, attached to the link 55, retains the opposite end of the spring link. The spring 60 provides a cushion for the rear wheel in each case.

One feature of importance is incorporated in a connecting link 6I on each side pivotally secured Vat the lower end 62 to the link 55 intermediate its ends and having a pivot connection 63 to the angular extension 35 of the stiifener 34.

To lock both the collapsible Wheel support and the collapsible body supporting member in extended positions there are provided a front bracket 55 and a rear bracket 6E. The front bracket 65, having somewhat the shape of a sha1- low V as best viewed in Figure 6, has its free ends extending downwardly to pivot connections B1 located one on each side at the front end of the respective side rail. In extended position wherein the bracket is vertically disposed it is adapted to be locked in by means of a locking device 63, details of which are shown in Figure 4. The locking device consists of a strip 69 bent approximately into an S shape, the upper end of which may be bolted to a block 10 at the forward end of the frame element II. One loop of the S is adapted to receive a coiled spring 1I which presses at one end against the strip and at the other end against a collar 12 iixed to bolt 13 for pressing the bolt into locked position. The bolt extends slidably through apertures in the loops of the S, as illustrated, and has a knob 14 at the lower end to provide a hand hold. The upper portion of the bracket 65 at its point of engagement with the loop is provided with an aperture f. 15 adapted to receive the bolt by means of which the bracket is locked in extended position.

For holding the rear wheels in extended position the bracket 65 is adapted to be locked by the rearward locking device 68. So that the midportion of the bracket may t snugly within the locking device it is bent at an angle transversely so that the mid-portion in extended position lies substantially flat against the bottom of the rear element I2 of the frame. The bracket 6G is locked in place by the same type of locking device shown in Figure 4 as was described for the front bracket 65.

A removable foot rest 8U is shown suspended by a rearward sling 8|, the ends of which loosely engage the rearwardly extending links 55, and a forward sling 82, the ends of which engage the forwardmost ends of the side rails 4 I. By forming the slings in a substantially U shape with the legs of the U turned in slightly for engagement, respectively, with the links and rails the foot rest may be readily removed by springing the slings .outwardly from their respective engaged positions.

Of equal convenience is the provision of a removable handle 84 which is adapted to be retained in a socket 85 located at the rear of the chassis. The bottom end of the handle may be provided with a pimple or protrusion 86 .or some similarly appropriate device which will hold the handle in the socket but with suicient looseness to permit ready removal when the handle is pulled endwise.

Another feature is incorporated in a carrying bag or sack 81 having a closure 88 and provided with straps 89 by means of which it can be slung Y upon the handle andsutilize'das a shoppngbag. When the handle and bag have been removed and the vehicle collapsed, the. bag may be used as a cover and carrying case for the vehicle with the handle secured by the straps to` the Youtside as shown in Figure 9.

Normally .the vehicley will be used in extended position as shown inFigures 1 through 7 inclusive. In this position the rails 4I, 42 `and links 55, 56A will be held in their most extended position downwardly by the brackets 65 and 66 respectively. The tops of the brackets will be locked by the locking devices 68. tended position, the connecting link.y 6l being in engagement with the angular extension 35` willv draw the extension in a downward direction causing the stiieners 34 to rotate into their uppermost or vertical position. Rotation of the stiffeners' to their vertical position eiects a raising of the encircling'frame I5 to its uppermost position in which the stiifeners 3| and the handle bar member 25 will likewise be erect. At the same time the diagonal braces 38 will be pushed rearwardly When the links` 55 are in exto the position shown in Figure'Z wherein they Y will tend to force the U-shaped bracket 29 rearwardly until it presses against a pair of blocks 90. Cooperation between the diagonal braces and the blocks, together with the remaining elements which comprise the body supporting structure, tends to stiien the structure in erect position and thereby provide a safe and secure support for thebody of the child.

When the device is to be collapsed, the rear bracket 66 may be unlocked and moved to a position between the links 55', 56'. Atthe same time the bracket 65 may be. disengaged romvthe locking Vdevice and rotated to` a. position between the rails 4I, 42. With the bracket supports thus removed the links 55, 56 and. sidel rails 4I, 42 may be pressed against the chassis'. Movement in this manner will tend, through the connecting links 6|, to rotate the vertical stiieners 34 to the position shown in Figure 8. The effect of this will beto collapse the body supporting structure likewise into the position shown in Figure 8. It will be apparent from this that the locking devices 68 for the front and rear brackets serve the, double purpose of locking both the wheel supporting structure and the body supporting structure in erect position. By the same; token. release. of the locking membersv permits both collapsible portions of the-device to be contracted at the same time into the compact arrangement shown in Figure 8.

The vehicle may be wheeled about in collapsed position if desired. If not, the handle may be removed and the vehicle inserted within the sack and made up into the compact carrying arrangement shown in Figure 9.

The arrangement just described provides a vehicle for wheeling children about which is of rugged construction and which is specially provided with handy and convenient meansy for extending the entire vehicle into an erect position ready for use butwhich bythe simple expedientV of releasing two locking devices, permits the lentire vehicle to be collapsedinto a compact arrangement occupying substantially a minimum amount of space so that itma'ybe readily and conveniently' carried about or, if preferred, stored away into a small place; Furtherl by removing the foot rest and handlethe vehicle maybe converted into a self-propelled walker which a child can push about by himself.

Although the invention has been herein shown '6T and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

The' invention having been herein described, what is yclaimed and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A wheeled vehicle comprising an elongated chassis incorporating a frame having a center beam, a transverse element at the rear and a seat adjacent the rear of said frame, a collapsible body supporting structure above the chassis comprisinga horizontal encircling frame spaced from theichassis, vertical stiiieners having pivot'con-y on front endsoi the rails, a pair'of links extending diagonally rearward from the mid-portions of? the rails and pivotally attached-thereto, wheel supporting spring links on the lower endstof the first links and ,rear wheels thereon, collapsible supporting'brackets respectively at the iront ends Y of the rails and rear ends of said rst links having a releasable engagement with the chassis inl extended position, vertical stiifeners on Opposite sides of the body supporting structure having angle extensions below the chassis and pivotally secured connecting links between the angle extensions and an intermediate portion of the rearwardly extending links.

`2. A wheeled vehicle for childrenl comprising f an elongated chassis incorporating a frame having a center beam, a transverse element at the rear-and ay seat supported on the beam adjacent the rear'of said frame, a collapsible body supporting structure above the chassis 4comprising a horizontal encircling frame spaced from the chassis, rear andintermediate vertical stiiieners khaving pivot connections at opposite. ends respectively to the encircling frame and the chassis, said structure including. a iiexibleI back rest secured atV one edge to the encircling frame and having a free swinging reinforced bottom edge above the seat,` diagonal stiffening braces between the upper and lower edges of said back restga tray at the forward end of the encirclingY frame having afrontv recess, and a handle bar memberfor additional stiffening comprising parallel elements extending from aposition valcove the tray through the recess therein to the chassis and pivotal Connections to the tray Aand the chassis, a collapsible four wheel supporting structure comprising a pair of side rails having' rear ends pivotally secured' to the rear' of the chassis and `in extendedv position extending diagonally downward Vtoward the front of, the chassis, bumpers andV spring cushioned, swivelly mountedwheels on front ends of the rails, a pairV of'links extending diagonally rearward from the mid-portions of the rails and pivotally attached thereto, wheel supporting spring links on the lower ends of the first links joined at the lower 7), ends and rear wheels thereon, collapsible supporting brackets respectively at the front ends of the rails and rear ends of said rst links hav-V ing a releasable engagement with the chassis in extended position, said intermediate vertical stifeners having angle extensions below the chassis and pivotally secured connecting links between the angle extensions and an intermedi- Aate portion of the rearwardly extending links, a

push handle removably supported in an upwardly rearwardly extending direction at the rear of the chassis and a removable foot rest supported by free swinging removable slings respectively on the rearward extending links and the side rails.

3. A wheeled vehicle comprising an elongated chassis incorporating a frame, a seat adjacent the rear of said frame, a collapsible body supporting structure above the chassis including supporting vertical stiifeners for the structure having pivot connections at opposite ends respectively to the structure and the chassis, a collapsible wheel support comprising a pair of side rails having rear ends pivotally secured to one end of the chassis and in extended position extending downwardly toward the opposite end, swivelly mounted wheels on lower ends of the rails, a pair of links having free ends extending in an opposite direction from intermediate portions of the rails and pivotally attached thereto, and wheels at the free ends of said links, collapsible supporting brackets respectively atV the loWer ends of the rails and the free ends of the links having a releasable engagement with the chassis in extended position, and connecting links pivotally secured respectively to portions of said vertical stiifeners on opposite sides of the body supporting structure and intermediate portions of said rst links.

4. A wheeled vehicle comprising an elongated chassis incorporating a frame having a center beam, a transverse element at the rear, a seat adjacent the rear of said frame, a collapsible body supporting structure above the chassis incorporating supporting vertical stiffeners ,for the structure having pivot connections at opposite ends respectively to the structure and the chassis, a collapsible wheel support comprising a pair of side rails having ends pivotally secured to one end of the chassis and in extended position extending downward toward the opposite end, swivelly mounted wheels on the lower ends of the rails, a pai-r of links having free ends extending diagonally in an opposite direction from intermediate portions of the rails and pivotally attached thereto, wheel supporting spring links on the free ends of the first links and wheels thereon, collapsible supporting brackets respectively at the free ends of the rails and free ends of the rst links having a lreleasable engagement with the chassis in extended position, said vertical stiifeners on opposite sides of the body supporting structure having extensions thereon and pivotally secured connecting links between the extensions and intermediate portions of the said first links.

5. A wheeled vehicle comprising an elongated chassis incorporating a frame having a center beam, a seat adjacent the rear of said frame, a collapsible body supporting structure above the chassis comprising a horizontal encircling frame spaced from the chassis, vertical stiffeners having pivot connections at opposite ends respectively to the encircling frame and the chassis, said structure including a flexible back rest secured at the upper edge thereof to the encircling frame and having 'a' stiff free swinging bottom edge adapted to contact stops on the seat, diagonal stiiening braces between theupper and lower edges of said back rest, a forward stiffening element pivotally secured between'the forward end of the frame and the chassis, and a collapsible wheel support comprising articulated members for irontV and rear wheels-collapsible supporting brackets respectively at opposite ends of the wheel supportV and connectinglinks between members of the wheel `support on opposite sides thereof and extensionson adjacently positioned vertical stiffenersadapted to effect simultaneous shifting of the body supporting structure and the collapsible wheel support between collapsed and extended positions. Y

6. A collapsible wheeled vehicle comprising a chassis, a wheel support `including extensible elements pivotally `mounted at one end on the chassis and having the other ends adapted to swing freely, wheels on said other ends and means for locking said wheel carrying ends in extended positions comprising a bracket having opposite ends pivotally secured to the wheel carrying ends of the extensible'elements and an intermediate portion' adapted to lie adjacent the chassis, and a lock on the chassis comprising anl S shaped strap having one end anchored to the chassis, a loop adjacent said end adapted to receive the bracket, a spring in a second loop of the strap and a lock pin extending transversely through the portions of the strap lforming 4the loops and through the bracket, said pin being normally encircledby and engaging said spring and normally spring pressedinto engagement with the bracket. Y

7. A collapsible Vwheeled. Vehicle and carrying case therefor comprising a chassis having an upper collapsible body supporting structure, a lower collapsible wheel supporting structure, a removable handle of substantially the length of the vehicle extending outwardly from the vehicle and al bag having a length substantially the same as that of the handle and of cross-sectional size sufficient to receive the vehicle when in collapsed condition, said bag having straps adapted to engage the handle for suspending the bag thereon when the handle is in use on the vehicle and adapted to secure'the handle to the bag when said bag is packed with the vehicle.

CHARLES D.,WILCOX.

REFERENCES CITED i UNITED' STATES -PA'IENTs lN urnlfxr Y VAName y Date 541,847 Goss July 2, 1895 1,040,602 Adams Oct. 8, 1912 1,140,085 Turner May 18, 1915 1,557,263 Millen Oct. 13,1925 2,054,967 Dahl Sept. 22, 1936 2,208,252 Feldman July 16,1940l FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 398,233 Germany July 5, 1924 618,223 France Mar. 5, 1927 648,644 France Dec. 12, 1928 

